Rock 'n' roll inspires new Dinnigan range

Her slim-fitting silhouettes don't usually allow much room for
cake, but the 10th anniversary of Collette Dinnigan's fashion reign
on the catwalks of Paris will not go unmarked today.

With celebrity clients Tina Arena and Rose Byrne in the front
row, and the presence of style arbiters Suzy Menkes of the
influential International Herald Tribune and UK scribe
Hilary Alexander, Dinnigan's milestone is set to get the attention
this hard-working designer deserves.

Still the only Australian designer to have been invited to show
on the official Paris Fashion Week schedule, Dinnigan was left less
breathless by her achievement than by the mad pace she set herself
as she raced to put the finishing touches to her collection
yesterday.

Even after a decade at the top of her game, she conceded her
nerves were as frayed as her new "distressed" designs.

"I was [confident] two weeks ago, but now I don't know what to
think," she said.

"There are more nerves now than there were 10 years ago because,
back then, they [the critics] didn't have any expectations. It was
22 hours a day, with very little assistance and we organised things
by a process of elimination. Now it's more challenging and much
harder to deliver."

But, if her designs are any reflection, Dinnigan has relaxed a
little at some point.

"The collection is very cute and sexy. It has a casual feel to
it, not so stitched up," she said of the "couture-meets-rock chic"
range.

Dinnigan has been inspired by music for these creations -
completing something of a full circle for the designer, who was
married to musician Bernie Lynch when she first started out and has
since gained important marketing mileage by dressing superstars
like Madonna.

"Music has always been important to me and I've been involved
with it one way or another for years - not just dressing stars for
videos."

After the show is over, it is daughter Estella who will really
help her mum celebrate.

"Estella and I plan to go shopping in Paris tomorrow and then
out for a nice lunch together," the single mother said.